Do we need to wear sunscreen even when inside?

Sun protection is serious business in Australia.

Do I need to wear sunscreen indoors?  The short answer is no.

It’s not that much of a risk at all, unless you are spending a lot of time by a window with direct sunlight. But even then, it depends on the type of window and building.

To explain, you need to know there are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reach Earth: UVA and UVB. Both contribute to sunburn, skin ageing, eye damage and melanoma and other skin cancers.

But UVB is the big player when it comes to skin cancer risk. UVB is blocked by glass — hence why even if you’re sitting near a window the risk is “pretty low. And laminated glass can eliminate UVA completely.

If the window has a shade structure like an awning, the risk is lower again.

You might think about sun protection if you are right next to a window, but it might just be clothing, not necessarily sunscreen.

If you’re going to be inside all day, you don’t need to wear sunscreen.

If you sit next to the window, yes, you get some light, but you do need some light for vitamin D for bone strength and a strong immune system.

But don’t forget, you might ‘pop out’

If you are going to be outside here and there throughout the day to do chores like hanging out the washing, for example, you may need sun protection, depending on the time of day and UV index.

Beware of popping outside without sun protection because it all adds up over the years. Sun protection is required outside when the UV index is 3 or above. There are parts of the country, like QLD and the NT where it’s above 3 all year round.